A Fine Renaissance Heraldic ‘Grand Tour’ Armour. A Gorget of a Duke. A Last Vestige Of The Of Knightly Armour Worn. When All Form of Steel Armour Was No Longer Used in Combat The Final Representation Of A Chivalrous Knight Was His ‘Gorget’ {Neck Armour}

A fabulous object d’art from the early ‘Grand Tour’ era, when young members of the nobility travelled around Europe and acquired classical art, original antiquities and all form of stunning ‘Grand Tour’ pieces. The were representations ‘after’ the original classical antiques, from Ancient Rome, Greece and the Italian Renaissance

A most beautiful antique ‘Grand Tour’ representational piece of highest status dress armour, in the 16th century style, but likely made in the 18th century or early 19th century, probably in Paris, for such as the younger members of families of a nobility such as earls or dukes, visiting Paris, searching for object d’arte and antiquities, just after the Napoleonic Wars.

It was in this era that great Continental tourists and travellers such as Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, his wife, Mary, and John William Polidori, travelled Europe and took up residence in palatial villas on the Swiss and Italian lakes. It was during such a tour, by those just mentioned, who were in their ‘Grand Tour’ years, while in their villa on Lake Geneva, in the Year Without Summer’ in 1816, wrote, one stormy night, The Vampyre {by Polidori} and Frankenstein, The Modern Prometheus, {by Mary Shelley}. Bearing in mind this was merely by means of a distraction from the poor weather. Can you imagine, the stratospheric talent of such like, that two of the greatest origin stories of horror, ever written, and still as read and performed in the performing arts, as much today as they were 200 years ago, were created in the same house, by two English travellers, at the very same time, and as a mere ‘distraction’ due to boredom.

It bears a most fine etched heraldic ducal crest, composed of a pair of cranes bearing a five bar face guarded demi-profile dukes helmet, mounted above a shield with chevron below four ermine panels, with three, four lobed devices about the chevron on both sides. The entire rim bears brass headed steel rivets and two shoulder centred large brass rivets that once held leather straps. We show in the gallery several portraits of Elizabethan nobles all adorned in their armour gorget over fine tunics of velvet or leather. The gorget was the last remaining symbol of knightly armour universally worn either at court or in combat by nobles in the Elizabethan period Although other elements of armour could be worn, such as arm defences, in accompaniment as the wearer saw fit.

In the High Middle Ages, when mail was the primary form of metal body armour used in Western Europe, the chain mail coif protected the neck and lower face. During the 14th century as more plate armour appeared to supplement mail, the Bascinet helmet incorporated a mail curtain called the Aventail which protected the lower face, neck and shoulders. A separate mail collar called a "pisan" or "standard" was sometimes worn under the aventail as additional protection. Towards the end of the 14th century, threats including the increased penetrating power of the lance when paired with a lance rest on the breastplate made more rigid forms of neck protection desirable.
One solution was a standing collar plate worn over the aventail and separate from the helmet, which was wide enough for the helmet to move around in so that the man-at-arms could turn his head. Through the early 15th century, gorget plates were integrated into the helmet itself to form the great bascinet. Other forms of helmet such as the sallet which did not protect the lower face and throat with plate were paired with a separate bevor, and the armet was often fitted with a wrapper that included gorget lames protecting the throat. During this time, the mail standard was still used.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the gorget became fully developed as a component of plate armor in its own right. Unlike previous gorget plates and bevors which sat over the breastplate and required a separate mail collar to fully protect the neck from gaps, the developed gorget was worn under the back and breastplate and was intended to cover a larger area of the neck, nape, shoulders, and upper chest, since the upper edges of the cuirass had become lower than before. The gorget served as an anchor point for the Pauldrons, which either had holes to slide over pins projecting from the gorget, or fastened to the gorget by straps and buckles. The neck was protected by a high collar of articulated lames, and the overall gorget consisted of front and back pieces which were hinged at the side so it could be put on and taken off. Some helmets had additional neck lames which overlapped the gorget, while others fitted tightly to the top of the gorget so that there would be no gap between them.
By the 17th century there appeared a form of gorget with a low, unarticulated collar and larger front and back plates which covered more of the upper chest and back. These were not worn with a breastplate as part of a full harness, but instead were worn over civilian clothing or a Buff coat. Some gorgets of this period were "parade" pieces that were beautifully etched, gilded, engraved, chased, embossed, or enamelled at great expense. Gradually the gorget became smaller and more symbolic, and became a single crescent shape worn on a chain, which suspended the gorget ever lower on the chest so that the gorget no longer protected the throat in normal wear. It is one of the more unusual elements of the arms and armour collecting field that 18th and 19th century fine etched armour, in the earlier styles of the 16th century, can be prized the same, or even more highly than the earlier originals that they were based upon.

In the ‘Grand Tour’ era of 19th century France such pieces of fine art were created for the highly classical ‘after the antique’ market. Such as gilt bronze miniature copies of ‘Napoleons’ column in Place Vendome, and small yellow simulated marble versions of Ancient Greek and Roman columns and arches, and architectural features, and sometimes whole structures, such as Cleopatra’s Needle. Bronzes and marbles ‘after the antique’ of busts of Roman Emperor’s, and elegant statuary. Companies such as Granger of Paris, that worked in the 1840's, created wonderful miniature suits of armour, mounted on horse armour or free standing, and they are of incredibly detailed quality. Such pieces by Granger are in such incredible demand, by collectors or interior decorators, that can they achieve values in the tens of thousands of pounds, even approaching six figures today, and for most that are no more than two feet or around 50 cms high complete. Wondrous full size armour was also created, such as extravagant armour helmets from the Renaissance, the designs made fore the kings of France in the 16th century. Also shields, gauntlets, and gorgets exactly as this fabulous piece. That were ideal for classical art displays and interior décor of the finest Georgian country estates, and the glorious Palladian terraced mansion houses in the cities, such as London, Edinburgh, Bath and Brighton.

Size 14 inches x 12 inches.  read more

Code: 20436

A Fantastic Souviner From One Of The Great Heroic Ships & Crew of WW2. A Battle of the River Plate, HMS Ajax Miniature Wooden Barrel Made From Teak from the Ship

One of the most desirable of the miniature pieces made from salvaged parts from British warships, HMS Ajax is in the premier division of maritime collectables.

A wooden miniature barrel made from wooden, teak parts of HMS Ajax, With a name plate thereon. The Battle of the River Plate.

The battle in 1939 was how 3 battleships, 3 aircraft carriers and 14 cruisers in seven Hunting Groups searched for a German raider that was the the Admiral Graf Spee and how the weakest force of three cruisers found her and the action which led to her destruction.

The Second World War against Nazi Germany had been waged for three months. At sea Britain had lost the passenger liner, Athenia, the armed merchant cruiser, HMS Rawalpindi, the battleship HMS Royal Oak and the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous. There was very little good news for Britain and France.

In the South Atlantic Captain Langsdorff in the German pocket battleship, Admiral Graf Spee had been sinking British merchant ships since September 1939. Commodore Harwood, commanding Royal Navy Hunting Group G, had studied the area and knew the attraction to a German raider of the rich pickings of British merchant ships leaving the River Plate estuary between Argentina and Uruguay in South America. The Germans claimed that their pocket battleships could out-gun any ships faster than them and outrun any ship with heavier armament.

In early December 1939 Harwood received enemy reports from the British freighters Doric Star and Tairoa as they were captured and sunk. He calculated that if the raider chose to head for South America she would probably arrive in the area off the River Plate on the morning of the 13th December. With this in mind, Harwood ordered the cruisers, HMS Ajax, Achilles and Exeter to concentrate there the previous day (12th December). They met at the pre-arranged time and exercised their action plan. On the morning of 13th December HMS Exeter was ordered to investigate smoke that was spotted on the horizon. She soon signaled, “I think it is a pocket battleship”. The three ships had finally met Admiral Graf Spee and at 0617 they went into action, following Harwood’s orders, “Attack at once, by day or night”. At first Graf Spee concentrated her fire on Exeter. Ajax and Achilles then closed on Graf Spee at speed, drawing her fire and causing significant upper deck damage and loss of morale. Graf Spee's Captain Langsdorff later said, “They came at me like destroyers”. At 0636 Graf Spee about-turned to the west, from where she started her retreat. With 66 of her crew killed, Exeter later retired from the battle badly damaged and made for the Falklands.

By 0725 Ajax and Achilles had closed to within 4 miles from Graf Spee. Harwood then decided to open the range and shadow her. However Graf Spee steadied and concentrated her fire again on Ajax and Achilles. Ajax fired a salvo of torpedoes to encourage Graf Spee to maintain her westward course, which she did, but shortly afterwards Graf Spee obtained a hit on Ajax which put her two after-turrets out of action. Achilles also suffered severe damage to her director control tower from a near-miss. This was Graf Spee's chance to turn on the pursuers and regain the initiative but it was not taken. Captain Langsdorff chose to break off the action and head for port in Montevideo, the capital of neutral Uruguay. Whether this was the result of a confused state because of wounds and concussion, a sense of defeat or to preserve the lives of his men we do not know.

On return home the men of HMS Ajax and HMS Exeter were feted in London by King George VI and Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty at the time). HMS Achilles' crew were similarly feted in their home town of Auckland, New Zealand.  read more

Code: 24923

Original & Rare 19th Century Saxon M.1880 Faschinenmesser Pioneer Artillery Short Sword - Regimentally Marked

Royal Saxon Field Artillery Regiment No.71

Very scarce Saxon sidearm that was only made for one year 1880/1881, in very good condition. Ideal for the collector of rare German swords. No scabbard.

Brass pommel, ribbed grips affixed with three brass rivet insets, steel collar and cross guard, steel single fuller blade, Elmo style blade marked on the ricasso stamped on spine of blade Imperial stamp and Crown A regimentaly stamped


Coloured photograph of the Royal Saxon Field Artillery Regiment 78 in the gallery  read more

Code: 24972

Choose The Ideal New Year Gift From Great Britain's Favourite Armoury Antiques & Collector's Shop. Some of The Best Ideas You Could Imagine, For Both Christmas & New Year, Have Come From The Lanes Armoury’. Our 105th Christmas in Brighton

Now moving on through Christmas this week, and the Christmas festivities. During this Christmas week any UK purchase will then be delivered before the New Year. Likely next Tuesday. After Christmas non UK purchases will be sent on their jolly way early next week .

To one and all, we wish a Very, Merry, Christmas and a Healthy, Happy, and Prosperous New Year.

Feliz Navidad
聖誕快樂
Joyeux Noël
عيد ميلاد مجيد
Frohe Weihnachten
Buon Natale
Prettige Kerstdagen
Feliz Natal
メリー クリスマス

Our closing times over Christmas are just three days;
Christmas Eve,
Christmas Day and
Boxing Day.

We reopen the gallery on Saturday at 11.00 am till 4.30 pm {usual hours}. Although we will still be contactable by telephone or via email all over the Christmas Holiday. Deliveries can still be made to our top floor office, that is manned 24/7 throughout Christmas, in order to maintain our website and process orders. We never open on Sundays.
From within the UK you can call us on
01273 321357 11.00 am till 4.00pm
or 24/7 07721010085
To contact us by telephone outside of the UK call, in office hours, 00 44 1273 321357,
or, if outside of UK and outside of office hours, call 00 44 7721 010085
or, if calling from North America dial 011 44 1273 321357 or 011 44 7721 010085.

This week we sent some magical & fabulous historical gift choices to our clients in USA, Canada, Japan, France, The Netherlands, Singapore, Australia & New Zealand plus of course, dozens in the UK too!
Keep an eye on our site this week for our latest arrivals due to be listed, as usual, fabulous bound volumes, some remarkable pieces from antiquity, more stunning samurai swords, plus a great collection of iconic antique British combat swords from the past two hundred and fifty years. Only the other day we added to our website a masterpiece of the French gunmakers art, possibly presented by the Emperor Napoleon himself. A magical combination of purest gold, finest juglans regia walnut, with masterfully chiselled steel and lustrous silver. A five figure piece that could easily be six figures if it was only known to whom it was presented. A secret lost into the mists of time!

This is our 105th year of family trading this coming Christmas, and the dawn of our 106th year. However, we have actually traded in Brighton for well over 200 years, but until WW1 we were principally involved in the fishing trade, especially seafood. In the early 19th century we used to supply the Brighton Royal Pavilion, the palace of King George IVth {formerly the Prince Regent} with shellfish.

Every year, many, many millions of people visit Brighton, and many hundreds of thousands of them find there way here to us. In fact up to two or three thousand often visit us every opening day.
The world famous New York Times included our gallery in their list as one of the very best places to visit in the UK when travelling to Europe from America. Where else in the UK could you leave a store, after a jolly Christmas holiday visit, with a selection of original WW2 Officer’s uniform buttons for only £1.50p each, or an original solid gold and gemstone intaglio carved seal ring once worn 1700 years ago by an Imperial Roman senator. Where you might rub shoulders with a former American President’s First Lady, a Hollywood superstar, {our latest recent superstar visitor was British actor Tom Hardy, (who returned once again for another visit this weekend) another recent customer, a professor of textiles from America, who very kindly arranged for us to receive some conservation papers from the Met, or a retired Scottish teacher on a regular visit from the Outer Hebrides.

Incredible things seem to happen here every day, for example, just a few weeks ago a very nice gentleman arrived here, after travelling all the way from Hong Kong, just to view and purchase one of our most special Japanese swords we were offering, and just as it was being packed up, after our business together was concluded, for its long journey to his home, another gentleman called on the phone with sincere interest in order to buy that very same sword, just a few minutes after the Hong Kong gentleman bought it, and bearing in mind we have many hundreds of swords on offer, and many thousands of intriguing pieces.
This remarkable occurrence was witnessed by one of our oldest friends and a very special regular customer, who was seated witnessing the whole turn of events, and he was amazed at the incredible coincidence, yet, he exclaimed, that so many hundreds of times he has been here in the past near 20 years, and he has seen, first hand, just how often that happens. We are truly a shop of most remarkably diverse visitors, and extraordinary coincidences.

As a former client, world renowned author, John Osborne, once said to Mark,
“It’s quite extraordinary, you can see just about everyone you could imagine here, and if you haven’t seen them yet, there’re probably on their way!’

Unique, ancient, antique and vintage beautiful items are our specialty, and be sure and certain that anything from us will be the best choice you can make this Christmas time. Recently arrived !
A flintlock pistol the likes of only normally to be seen in the very finest museums, containing the very finest arms presented by Napoleon to Kings and Sultans, a collection of dozens of wonderful British swords from the past 230 years, another huge collection of original samurai swords, from 500 years old to ancestral swords last used in WW2, an incredible ships captain’s spring bayonet mounted cannon barrelled blunderbuss, superb 19th century British and French cavalry helmets, also some stunning cannon balls fired at Waterloo. Plus, our current selection ranges from a collection just acquired of really great and rare bayonets, British German & French, antique WW1 and WW2, from a collector who wanted the very best he could find over the past 40 years. Including rare French examples from the 'Russian contract' during WW1, that were uncovered in Ukraine in the late 90's, and some French Foreign Legion bayonets, acquired from a French Foreign Legion reserve armoury depot clear-out in the 70's. Plus stunning and rare Japanese samurai swords including a beautiful, original 'Tamashigiri Cutting Test' antique samurai katana signed by high rated master smith, Masashige Tegarayama, 手柄山正繁 with a highly rare Tamashigiri Cutting Test, By Gonnosuke Komatsubara, Dated 1799 to some super Ist Edition Charles Dickens novels, and various fabulous, wonderful and utterly beautiful antique Victorian dragoon dress helmets. Also a stunning collection of historical, provenanced original Napoleonic War cannon balls and a huge French Howitzer explosive round { now inert}.

All kinds of other unique and fabulous conversation pieces, including some delightful volumes, have been acquired lately, such as, for example, a 1st edition of The Third Man by Graham Greene, one of David senior’s fellow imbibers at our neighbours ancient establishment, The Cricketers, Brighton’s 500 year old inn.

Another part of our original Japanese katana acquisitions arrived, and as usual many are stunning beauties and A Superb Choice For This Christmas, And a Special Price Too! A Very Good World War II Imperial Japanese Army Officer's Katana with a famous family's silver clan mon

We have had arrive here recently, some more really wonderful, original pieces of history. And as usual, this occurs almost every single day, {except Sunday} sometimes many times in a day if we are fortunate. Being one of all the world’s collectors favourite stores, some incredible artifacts are almost magnetically drawn to our doorstep every opening hour.

Every item, as usual, will be accompanied with our unique, presentation quality, 'Certificate of Authenticity' that will not only fully certify it's genuineness, but it will detail the circumstance of it's origin, and where and when it may have been used in it's specific or generic history.
Where else in Britain could you walk out of the store this Christmas with an original souvenir from Alexander the Great's battle with the Persians in 334 B.C, from only £65, to a fabulous unique handmade gold, diamond and ruby 'Mystery Watch' once owned by movie legend, Elizabeth Taylor, for just under £180,000, or, a 2500 year old ancient Chinese sword that may very likely have once been the sword of a king!, and how about a fabulous 'Shaturnal' a Moghul War-Elephant cannon

We are very proud to offer a superb selection of ancient antiquities, swords, daggers and spears from all the major past empires and civilisations of the world from over the past 3,500 years. In fact many recognise our unique and original selection is likely the best and most comprehensive to be seen, and offered for sale, anywhere in Europe, and possibly even the world over.

This Christmas season we can offer thousands of pieces, including, such as, a fabulous complete set of Charles Dickens novels

"Outside of a dog, man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

— GROUCHO MARX
{and yes, he was a visiting customer as well, in around March 1965}

And please be further assured, all gift purchases may be changed after Christmas for any form of suitable alternatives.

"Doesn't someone you know deserve something unique from The Lanes Armoury". Just look at a few of our thousands of pages of delectable offerings, that vary from a very rare Rowntree’s WW2 munitions factory Rescue Officer’s helmet, to an Iceni chieftain’s chariot rein mount from the Roman-Celtic war with Queen Boudicca in England 2000 years ago, to very rare Italian Renaissance 16th century prince's dagger, to crossbow bolts recovered from the Battle site of Bannockburn {23–24 June 1314}, to some exceptional swords from the Napoleonic Wars, some belonging to several of Napoleon's generals. One, is a presentational grade sabre, somewhat akin to the fabulous Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund swords awarded to hero’s of the wars with Napoleon {but fortunately, not for the 100,000 pounds plus cost that they can command today}, &, to a superb Gurkha’s WW2 military issue kukri for just a few hundred pounds. Everything is possible through our portals, for all budget ranges, from just a few pounds to six figures.

The Lanes Armoury described by the 'New York Times' as one of the very best stores and destinations to visit when in Europe.
A living, breathing gallery that is a huge walk around ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’, containing thousands of original historical and magical pieces from the ancient long past, to the near recent. In fact, from 300,000 years of human history, and 100 million years of world history.

We are certainly not the biggest premier store in Europe recommended by the New York Times, in fact we are probably the smallest, but what we lack in size, apparently, we more than make up for in amazement, and wonder, and, the family have been trading in antiques in Brighton for over 104 years. Prior to that, we traded in Brighton caught shellfish for the previous 100 plus years, with our licensed shellfish concessions for the entire Brighton coastline.

For example, we added recently items that range from a Samurai Ancestral Sword Around 600 years old {or more}, a WW2 Japanese Officer's Sword With An Ancestral Blade 450 Years Old, an original late Koto to shinto samurai’s daisho, a stunning ‘Agincourt’, hand-and-a-half knights sword, a Seige of Troy era Bronze Age sword, incredibly rare original Viking warriors sword around 1000 years old, a beautiful samurai’s disguised fan dagger, plus, Ancient Roman Gladiator's rings for both for a Gladiator and Gladiatrix, around 1700 years old.

Google just let us know our updated Google entry just past the amazing 1,000,000 { one million } searches in order to find out our location in order to visit us here in Brighton, England.

Twenty Four Years Ago, After 80 Years Trading in Brighton, We Were Honoured by Being Nominated & Awarded by BACA, In The Best Antique & Collectables Shop In Britain Awards 2001
Presented by MILLER'S Antiques Guide, THE BBC, HOMES & ANTIQUES MAGAZINE, for the British Antique & Collectables Awards. The version of the antique dealers ‘Oscars’ of Britain.


In the gallery, the first photo, is a wonderful daybreak photo, taken the at the farm two Christmas seasons ago, December 2023. Showing what some are calling the South of England's 'Sky-on-Fire' Daybreak. You can see in the far distance in his retirement paddock the late Judy Hawkins's beloved former UK 'Supreme Champion' Scottish Highland grey pony, that was a frequent competitor against the late queen's Highlands at Windsor Castle. In his prime, he had his own worldwide fan club, and competition followers. Photo 7 in the gallery is old “Governor’ and his little chum “Roger” waiting for their morning apples at our farm last year, sadly, they are now no longer with us. Photo 8 is a typical example of everyday new arrivals in the gallery. Photo 9 is Judy and Holly, ten years apart, first watching "Governor" in competition, then Holly alone, with her horse, following on in her late devoted grandmother's passion, and, the family tradition. Our family have been entranced by our love of animals since modern memory, but principally dogs and horses, for over 200 years. Of course, in regards to horses, the first 130 years was by necessity, as then you couldn’t get anything done, in both the domestic or business world, at all, without them, but the past 70 years has been for love, pleasure and joy alone.
This year has been a tough one for our equine life. First we lost Governor, then Roger, then just last week, Arrow. But the many decades of joy they brought us all, and hopefully the joyous life they all led with us here, more than makes up for our feelings of loss and sadness.

The last photo in the gallery is an autographed photo, given to Mark personally, by the late, great, 40th President of The United States, Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office of The White House.  read more

Code: 25540

A Waterloo Soldiers Hussif or ‘Housewife’ Thimble. From Our Latest New Additions, Recovered from Waterloo. Whether We Find Private Collectors For our Pieces, or, For Public Museums Such As The Royal Armouries, Every Treasure Will Find A New Home

More photos of the thimble will be added on Saturday 27th. A British soldiers brass thimble from his ‘housewife’ pouch, recovered with a small collection, from the Waterloo battle site in the 1820’s by the Scottish, Hamilton family members {the 10th Duke of Hamilton} in their years long ‘Grand Tour’ of Europe and the Middle East. During the building of the huge monument, ‘The Lion Mound’, the local work force of hundreds of men were using the battle site excavation to supply thousands of tons of Waterloo battlefield soil. They subsidised their pay by selling to British ‘nobility tourists’ their precious finds, relics of the great battle. Our ‘housewife’ thimbles still show all thir excavation surface condition, completely untouched since then. We price are for each, a single, incredibly fascinating and intriguing thimble.

We are always thrilled to offer ‘re-discovered’ pieces from history, that can be found new owners to love and enjoy them, or museums that can display them for the enjoyment of all. A few years, for example we traced and acquired the second oldest known cannonball fired in combat in England. From the second battle of St Albans in the War of the Roses. That wonderful relic of history now resides in the St Albans museum, and was part of a public exhibition held from March 24, 2023 - June 28, See our re-discovered cannon ball, now on display in the St Albans museum, in the last photo in the gallery. All due thanks to SAHAAS President, Dr. John Morewood. A short while ago we furnished, for the Royal Armouries, Tower of London collection, a ‘Waterloo’ 1796 Heavy Cavalry Trooper’s sword, that was subsequently used in a fascinating documentary, filmed at the armouries, presented by Sean Bean

We have more from our Waterloo recovered souvenirs to add this coming week. Some very small, amazing yet most inexpensive pieces, and a few absolute beauties, shrapnel, cannon balls, some ‘housewife’ thimbles, rings etc, .

In the Napoleonic Wars every soldier was required to keep upon his person, a ‘housewife’, a small kit comprising needle, thread and a half or full thimble. Apparently they are no longer officially called a ‘housewife’ . See photo 7 in the gallery of part of Capt. Newton Chambers, 1st Foot Guards, of Waterloo, ‘houswiff’ {housewife}. Now in the National Army Museum collection in Chelsea, London. An essential museum to visit for amazing Waterloo artifacts.

A “housewife”, was a compact sewing kit that a soldier carried on campaign to mend his uniform. One famous example and survivor of the Napoleonic Wars was one owned by Captain Newton Chambers, who served with the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards. At the Battle of Waterloo he was aide-de-camp to General Sir Thomas Picton and was killed during the battle, as was Picton himself.

His housewife was made of silk pockets containing threads, five buttons and a small pincushion in a card tied with a pink ribbon. It would also have had a brass thimble.
The term housewife referring to a portable sewing kit was used in print for the first time in 1749. Such kits were also known as a “hussif”. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was common for mothers, wives and sweethearts to embroider personalised sewing kits for their menfolk to take to war. The one above is obviously a gift from a woman who was close to Captain Chambers. These sewing kits, or portions thereof are very popular with collectors today.

From the mid 19th century to the mid-20th century a more prosaic khaki roll-up pouch containing thread, buttons, scissors, needles and a thimble became standard army issue. Before the advent of safety pins the housewife was useful for mending uniforms and sewing on buttons, ranks, and awards. The needle could also be used for removing splinters, and on occasion, sewing up a wound. Some soldiers even took up recreational needlework. After the First World War (1914-18), embroidery became a popular therapeutic occupation for wounded soldiers.

We show in the gallery pages from Waterloo Relics, by Gilles Bernard, and Gerard Lachaux, detailing excavated recoveries, identical to ours.

The Cotton Collection, the full weapons, militaria, and recovered artifact display, from the battlefield, housed at the Hotel du Musee at Waterloo, owned first by Edward Cotton, then by his descendant family, was sold by auction in 1909.

The last photo in the gallery shows a photograph of one section of the collection in the museum of Waterloo, taken in around 1900, showing all the weapons of Waterloo en situ, including all the protagonists {British, French, Prussian and Belgian muskets, swords, pistols, armour uniforms, etc}. The museum was founded and owned by a veteran of the 7th Hussars who personally fought at Waterloo. Another photo shows the front page of his collection catalogue

An extract from an 1862 publication;

A VOICE FROM
WATERLOO
A HISTORY OF THE BATTLE
FOUGHT ON THE 18TH JUNE 1815
WITH A SELECTION FROM THE WELLINGTON DISPATCHES, GENERAL ORDERS
AND LETTERS RELATING TO THE BATTLE.
ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS, PORTRAITS AND PLANS.
BY
SERGEANT-MAJOR EDWARD COTTON
(LATE 7TH HUSSARS).
“Facts are stubborn things.”
SIXTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED.


HOTEL DU MUSÉE,
AT THE FOOT OF THE LION MOUNT.
This Hotel, kept by a niece of the late Sergeant-Major Cotton, is situated in the very centre of the field of Waterloo, and is strongly recommended to visitors on account of its proximity to the scenes of interest connected with the great battle, and also for the excellent accommodation and comfort it offers at moderate charges.—See Bradshaw’s continental Guide.

As with all our items, every piece will be accompanied by our fully detailed Certificate of Authenticity

{Available from the Project Gutenberg.}  read more

Code: 25003

An Original Medieval Caltrop 13th-15th Century, Recovered From the Battle Site of Agincourt. Known to The Ancient Romans As A Tribulus. One of The Oldest Forms of Incredibly Effective Combined Offensive & Defensive Strategies of War

Part of an incredible collection of Roman, Viking, and Medieval antiquities we have just acquired, including these amazingly interesting pieces, a few, original, battlefield recovered caltrops from the Anglo French wars of the 14th and early 15th centuries, all acquired from a ‘Grand Tour’ of 1820, either from the regions surrounding the battle site of Agincourt, . Some were listed specifically as from Agincourt, others as from either the Poitiers or Crecy battle sites. However they were all constructed the same by English blacksmith armourers, between 600 to 700 years ago. As well as historically incredibly interesting it is also an amazing, and especially a somewhat gruesome, conversation piece.

In many respects as equally important to the medieval former King’s armies at the time as the long bow and arrow. Yet they have almost disappeared from the history books as to their incredible significance and highly useful service in all of those battles. For example, by just 50 men casting thousands of these caltrops, across, say, a 25 acre field, it would effectively deny an entire French army the ability to out-flank the British across that particular terrain. Thus, with that ingenious ability, a king could manipulate to a great degree, and with relative ease, an entire defensive or offensive position for an oncoming battle, or even hopefully negate a surprise attack from a particular direction. And to caste them behind the ranks of a retreating army would create a huge advantage potentially for survival against an attack from behind. There is no greater advantage to the discouragement of an enemy French foot soldier to know that he, and up to fifty percent of his pursuing force comrades, might well be crippled for life before even engaging with the enemy English in hand to hand combat. Upon being caste on hard and barren flat ground, in daylight, they would be easy to spot and thus, with relative caution, avoid, but upon grassy ground, or woodland, especially when the ground was wet, they would be near impossible to see.

The caltrop is an ancient anti-personnel weapon made up of forged and very heavy grade sharp nails or spines arranged in a pyramidical manner so that one of them always points upward from a triple spine stable base. In the wars with France they could be issued to English foot soldiers to caste behind if they made a rapid withdrawal and were likely to be pursued. Used thus they would incapacitate, often permanently, an infantryman or foot knight, if trodden upon, and create the same result if trodden upon by a harsh man’s mount. They would also be forged in significant numbers in order to remove or deny an area of a battlefield or defences from the enemy’s access. The prominent spike being of such a height and strength, they would easy penetrate the thickest leather shoe sole, and especially a bare foot or hoof, as many medieval soldiers marched and fought barefooted.
Iron caltrops were used as early as 331 BC at Gaugamela according to Quintus Curtius (IV.13.36). They were known to the Romans as tribulus or sometimes as Murex ferreus, the latter meaning 'jagged iron'.

Richard Lassels, an expatriate Roman Catholic priest, first used the phrase “Grand Tour” in his 1670 book Voyage to Italy, published posthumously in Paris in 1670. In its introduction, Lassels listed four areas in which travel furnished "an accomplished, consummate traveler" with opportunities to experience first hand the intellectual, the social, the ethical, and the political life of the Continent.

The English gentry of the 17th century believed that what a person knew came from the physical stimuli to which he or she has been exposed. Thus, being on-site and seeing famous works of art and history was an all important part of the Grand Tour. So most Grand Tourists spent the majority of their time visiting museums and historic sites.

Once young men began embarking on these journeys, additional guidebooks and tour guides began to appear to meet the needs of the 20-something male and female travelers and their tutors traveling a standard European itinerary. They carried letters of reference and introduction with them as they departed from southern England, enabling them to access money and invitations along the way.

With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months or years to roam, these wealthy young tourists commissioned paintings, perfected their language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent.

The wealthy believed the primary value of the Grand Tour lay in the exposure both to classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A Grand Tour could last from several months to several years. The youthful Grand Tourists usually traveled in the company of a Cicerone, a knowledgeable guide or tutor.

The ‘Grand Tour’ era of classical acquisitions from history existed up to around the 1850’s, and extended around the whole of Europe, Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and the Holy Land.

Caltrops, known as tribulus to Romans, were recorded as used as such in the Battle of Carrhae in 51 BC.
The late Roman writer Vegetius, referring in his work De Re Militari to scythed chariots, wrote:

The armed chariots used in war by Antiochus and Mithridates at first terrified the Romans, but they afterwards made a jest of them. As a chariot of this sort does not always meet with plain and level ground, the least obstruction stops it. And if one of the horses be either killed or wounded, it falls into the enemy's hands. The Roman soldiers rendered them useless chiefly by the following contrivance: at the instant the engagement began, they strewed the field of battle with caltrops, and the horses that drew the chariots, running full speed on them, were infallibly destroyed. A caltrop is a device composed of four spikes or points arranged so that in whatever manner it is thrown on the ground, it rests on three and presents the fourth upright. Undoubtedly the most unusual weapon or military device surviving from seventeenth-century Virginia in America was a caltrop, a single example of which has been found at Jamestown. In fact their importance of use in close combat warfare was so important they were still in use by the British and US special services of the SOE & the OSS, as anti tyred vehicle sabotage devices, caste upon roads and lanes to incapacitate German trucks and staff cars.
Although by then, hand forging was fortunately redundant, as modern manufacturing methods could easily create pointed hollow steel tubed versions to ensure an immediate deflation of tyres.

The Battle of Agincourt;
After several decades of relative peace, the English had renewed their war effort in 1415 amid the failure of negotiations with the French. In the ensuing campaign, many soldiers perished due to disease and the English numbers dwindled, but as they tried to withdraw to English-held Calais they found their path blocked by a considerably larger French army. Despite the disadvantage, the following battle ended in an overwhelming tactical victory for the English.

King Henry V of England led his troops into battle and participated in hand-to-hand fighting. The French king of the time, Charles VI, did not command the French army himself, as he suffered from severe psychotic illnesses with moderate mental incapacitation. Instead, the French were commanded by Constable Charles d'Albret and various prominent French noblemen of the Armagnac party.

This battle is notable for the use of the English longbow in very large numbers, with the English and Welsh archers forming up to 80 percent of Henry's army. The decimation of the French cavalry at their hands is regarded as an indicator of the decline of cavalry and the beginning of the dominance of ranged weapons on the battlefield.

Agincourt is one of England's most celebrated victories. The battle is the centrepiece of the play Henry V by Shakespeare. Juliet Barker in her book Agincourt: The King, the Campaign, the Battle ( published in 2005) argues the English and Welsh were outnumbered "at least four to one and possibly as much as six to one". She suggests figures of about 6,000 for the English and 36,000 for the French, based on the Gesta Henrici's figures of 5,000 archers and 900 men-at-arms for the English, and Jean de Wavrin's statement "that the French were six times more numerous than the English". The 2009 Encyclopædia Britannica uses the figures of about 6,000 for the English and 20,000 to 30,000 for the French.

Generic photos are used here in the photo gallery as they are all taken from of our small collection are extremely similar looking examples of rare, finely handcrafted, original, medieval hammer forged workmanship, recovered from ancient battle sites. Their three dimensional proportions shows they all, approximately, occupy same size {though not shape of course} as an English cricket ball. And they are all now superbly conserved for another millennium, for the enjoyment of future generations for fascinating historic interest.  read more

Code: 23981

Early Crusades Reliquary, Pectoral, Encolpion Cross. Containing A Shard of The True Cross. Hinged, Neck Cross Of the Ancient Holy Land. Likely Presented to a Warrior Knight Before His Departure for the Crusade, by an Archbishop or The Pope. 1000 Years Old

An absolute beauty, of great size and presence, and the detailing is superb, reflecting in the quality of the entire piece. This was clearly made to the standard for gifting to a knight of highest rank, status and great standing, such as a warrior Bishop of the Knights Templars.
Obviously with light signs of natural old surface wear, but it has survived superbly complete, especially considering after all the extraordinary turmoil, privations, and indeed likely combat the knight owner would have experienced during the earliest crusades to the Holy Land.
Even some of the best examples, comparable to a beauty such as this, on exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum Collection in New York, are damaged or even only half complete. See photo 10 in the gallery.

With a deep relief cast bronze Jesus Christ in a crucifix pose on the obverse side with four evangelists, and Mary on the reverse side, in an orans prayer pose, also with four busts of evangelists surrounding.
This is a two part, hinged bronze reliquary cross, which is complete, and may once have contained part of the true cross.
The cross is composed of two bronze boxes with were formed and joined by hinges. A thick suspension ring enabled the encolpion to be worn as a pectoral pendant. This unusual cross portrays, on one side, Christ with arms extended, wearing a robe (colobium). On the other side the robed Mary has arms and hands raised (“orans”) in prayer. The reliquary was probably thought to contain a splinter of the True Cross. For other reliquary crosses, see the exhibition catalogue “Kreuz und Kruzifix” (Diocese Museum of Friesing, Germany, 2005) – pgs 174-175. A virtually identical example in bronze is pictured in Pitirakis, "Les Croix-Reliquares Pectorales Byzantine", Paris, 2006, 162. Byzantine representations of the Crucifixion which show Christ wearing a robe are normally earlier than those in which he wears a loincloth.
The hinging is now connected by two hoops of iron.

The hollow portion formed inside the box was intended for the sacred relic that the faithful would have worn around the neck. Part four of the amazing small collection of antiquites including Crusades period Crucifixes and reliquary crosses for the early Anglo Norman Crusader knights and Jerusalem pilgrims.
As used in the early Crusades Period by Knights, such as the Knights of Malta Knights Hospitaller, the Knights of Jerusalem the Knights Templar, the Knights of St John.
The new Norman rulers were culturally and ethnically distinct from the old French aristocracy, most of whom traced their lineage to the Franks of the Carolingian dynasty from the days of Charlemagne in the 9th century. Most Norman knights remained poor and land-hungry, and by the time of the expedition and invasion of England in 1066, Normandy had been exporting fighting horsemen for more than a generation. Many Normans of Italy, France and England eventually served as avid Crusaders soldiers under the Italo-Norman prince Bohemund I of Antioch and the Anglo-Norman king Richard the Lion-Heart, one of the more famous and illustrious Kings of England. An encolpion "on the chest" is a medallion with an icon in the centre worn around the neck upon the chest. This stunning and large neck worn example is bronze three part with its hinged top. 10th to 12th century. The hollow portion formed inside the cross was intended for the sacred relic that the faithful would have worn around the neck. The custom of carrying a relic was largely widespread, and many early bronze examples were later worn by the Crusader knights on their crusades to liberate the Holy Land. Relics of the True Cross became very popular from the 9th century, and were carried in cross-shaped reliquaries like this, often decorated with enamels, niellos, and precious stones. The True Cross is the name for physical remnants from the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Many Catholic and Orthodox churches possess fragmentary remains that are by tradition believed to those of the True Cross. Saint John Chrysostom relates that fragments of the True Cross were kept in reliquaries "which men reverently wear upon their persons". A fragment of the True Cross was received by King Alfred from Pope Marinus I (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, year 883). An inscription of 359, found at Tixter, in the neighbourhood of Sétif in Mauretania, was said to mention, in an enumeration of relics, a fragment of the True Cross, according to an entry in Roman Miscellanies, X, 441.

Fragments of the Cross were broken up, and the pieces were widely distributed; in 348, in one of his Catecheses, Cyril of Jerusalem remarked that the "whole earth is full of the relics of the Cross of Christ," and in another, "The holy wood of the Cross bears witness, seen among us to this day, and from this place now almost filling the whole world, by means of those who in faith take portions from it." Egeria's account testifies to how highly these relics of the crucifixion were prized. Saint John Chrysostom relates that fragments of the True Cross were kept in golden reliquaries, "which men reverently wear upon their persons." Even two Latin inscriptions around 350 from today's Algeria testify to the keeping and admiration of small particles of the cross. Around the year 455, Juvenal Patriarch of Jerusalem sent to Pope Leo I a fragment of the "precious wood", according to the Letters of Pope Leo. A portion of the cross was taken to Rome in the seventh century by Pope Sergius I, who was of Byzantine origin. "In the small part is power of the whole cross", says an inscription in the Felix Basilica of Nola, built by bishop Paulinus at the beginning of 5th century. The cross particle was inserted in the altar.

The Old English poem Dream of the Rood mentions the finding of the cross and the beginning of the tradition of the veneration of its relics. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle also talks of King Alfred receiving a fragment of the cross from Pope Marinus (see: Annal Alfred the Great, year 883). Although it is possible, the poem need not be referring to this specific relic or have this incident as the reason for its composition. However, there is a later source that speaks of a bequest made to the 'Holy Cross' at Shaftesbury Abbey in Dorset; Shaftesbury abbey was founded by King Alfred, supported with a large portion of state funds and given to the charge of his own daughter when he was alive – it is conceivable that if Alfred really received this relic, that he may have given it to the care of the nuns at Shaftesbury

Most of the very small relics of the True Cross in Europe came from Constantinople. The city was captured and sacked by the Fourth Crusade in 1204: "After the conquest of the city Constantinople inestimable wealth was found: incomparably precious jewels and also a part of the cross of the Lord, which Helena transferred from Jerusalem and which was decorated with gold and precious jewels. There it attained the highest admiration. It was carved up by the present bishops and was divided with other very precious relics among the knights; later, after their return to the homeland, it was donated to churches and monasteries.To the category of engolpia belong also the ampullae, or vials or vessels of lead, clay or other materials in which were preserved such esteemed relics as oil from the lamps that burned before the Holy Sepulchre, and the golden keys with filings from St. Peter's chains, one of which was sent by St. Gregory the Great to the Frankish King Childebert.

The last time the Pope gave a piece of the true cross was for the coronation of King Charles IIIrd set within the cross for Wales. The relics of what is known as the True Cross were given to King Charles by Pope Francis, as a coronation gift. The cross uses Welsh materials such as slate, reclaimed wood, and silver from the Royal Mint in Llantrisant. King Charles hammered the hallmark onto the silver used in the cross.

Encolpion, a different anglicization of the same word, covers the early medieval tradition in both Eastern and Western Christianity. Superb condition overall, with both the top and bottom hinges secured with loops of iron wire

The natural, aged, surface bronze patination over the past 1000 years is in superb condition.

Picture 10 in the gallery is from a most similar example in the Metropolitan Museum, but only half the cross remaining {the Jesus posed side is missing} bearing Mary and four evangelists as does ours.
3 inches high.  read more

Code: 26066

This Is A Truly Fabulous Ancestral Bladed WW2 Officer's Katana With A Rare Shinto Blade, Circa 1615, Signed Hizen no Kuni Ju Nin {Suriage, Tadayoshi} 肥前国住人 & 忠吉作 相模守義道 Bearing the Signatures of Two Master Sword Smiths of Both Hizen and Osaka

We have spent numerous decades, seeking the best and most historical ancestral bladed WW2 Japanese officers swords to be found. All with original, early samurai sword blades, many hundreds of years old, but this week we have found from impeccable sources three superb examples, two of them extraordinary rare examples.
This beauty has a most historical and unique Shinto blade, which is both signed by Hizen no Kuni Ju Nin (suriage} Tadayoshi {the original master smith} and further inscribed and signed on the reverse side of the nakago, Tadayoshi, followed further down with, "shortened {in 1737} by Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi ". This fine ancestral blade, with two udenka-ana, is fitted within its very fine, hand made bespoke shin gunto military mounts, with its tsuka {hilt} field service fully leather covered, a traditional Edo circular iron sukashi tsuba, and the saya is matching with its field service leather covered over wood. Interestingly the tsuka field service leather has, on half its length, traditional diamond 'windows' carved through the surface leather, to reveal its traditional Edo period menuki beneath. A very special, yet small feature, but incredibly interesting, and we can't recall ever seeing such work of its like created before. Especially since we have handled, likely more Japanese swords {in our 104 years} than any other company in the world

The phrase "Tadayoshi shortened by Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi" refers to a specific type of Japanese sword inscription where a famous Tadayoshi (often Hizen Tadayoshi lineage) sword had its signature shortened or altered by another renowned smith, Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi (possibly 3rd Gen), often for quality control or to indicate a collaboration/re-tempering, showcasing two major Edo-period sword-making schools in one blade, a significant find for collectors.

Tadayoshi: Refers to the famous Hizen Tadayoshi school of swordsmiths from Saga, prominent in the early Edo period, known for their domain-sponsored production.
Sagami no Kami Minamoto Yoshimichi was a skilled Osaka-based smith, often associated with the Mishina school, known for his exceptional hamon (temper lines), particularly choji midare.
"Shortened by": This usually means Yoshimichi re-worked or finished a sword originally made by a Tadayoshi smith, sometimes signing his own name (Sagami no Kami Yoshimichi) alongside or over the original signature, perhaps to enhance quality or attest to its excellence.

Effectively this is a most rare blade showing two master swordsmith's names that worked upon a single blade. The second smith inscribed it when he re-worked the blade, around 100 years after the first smith originally crafted the blade: It combines two highly respected names from different major sword-making centres (Hizen and Osaka).
Such rare blades are much prized by collectors, highlighting master craftsmanship and unique historical moments in Japanese sword history,
The subject smith Yoshimichi 義道 with Sagami-no-kami 相模守 title was a student {and later master} of 2nd gen. Ouomi-no-kami Hisamichi 近江守久道. He was born in Hyuga Province (now in Miyazaki pref.) in Kyushu island. His real name was Tomita Jin-uemon 冨田甚右衛門. It is said that he also lived and worked in Hiroshima, Aki province (now in Hiroshima pref.).

'If' this katana was indeed made by the 1st generation Tadayoshi 忠吉, the recognized production year is judged on about Kencho 20 (ca.1615) from it's inscription. His katana's preserved the typical shape that became widespread during Keicho (1596-16) period. From his workmanship, Tadayoshi was very much influenced by the Soshu-Bizen works during Nanbokucho period
The first generation Tadayoshi was born in Genki 3 (1572) as a son of sword maker Hashimoto Michihiro 橋本道弘 in Nagase town, Saga district. He became separated from his father Michihiro 道弘 who died of a disease and grandfather Morihiro 盛弘 who met death in the battle of Shimabara at the same time in the 3rd month Tensho 12 (1584) when he was as young as 13 years old. He was compelled to serve his apprenticeship to the other local sword makers in his young ages. However he excelled in as a superior sword maker since teen age and finally was picked out by feudal lord Nabeshima Katsushige 鍋島勝茂.
Keicho 1 (1596), when he was 25 years old, he went up to Kyoto to join the famed school of Umetada Myouju 埋忠明寿 and learn the most updated culture and technique for three years.
From on about Keicho 18 (1613) down to Kanei 1 (1624) he intentionally used the other inscription of "Hizen-koku-junin Tadayoshi-saku" 肥前国住人忠吉作 mainly for those unconventional artworks which are out from the standard works of Tadayoshi's studio as if he challenged to make an innovative artworks to try using different sence of technique from antcient times and regions.
He passed away in the 15th day, the 8th month of Kanei 9 (1632), was 61 years old.

There is one most intriguing point about this fine blade. It was intentionally shortened by another master smith, Minamoto Yoshimichi, of high repute, thus, if it wasn't highly revered at the time {in 1727} why do this?, and thus, inscribe it accordingly.

Surely, one would never contemplate such a very special and most expensive treatment for the blade, if it was not of great significance of its owner at that time. Additionally, the master smith who shortened it and signed it accordingly, {Minamoto Yoshimichi} would likely never put his name to a blade he considered not correct, and thus, inferior to his efforts.

The blade is in good, original Edo polish, with small aged surface thinning, and a few minuscule edge nicks and the koshirae are in superb condition for a WW2 mounted officer's sword  read more

Code: 26010

A German WW2 Eastern Front Medal Designed Original, Exceptional Example of the German SS/Heer Issue WW2 'Operation Barbarosa' Eastern Front Combat During 1941-1942 Service Medal. Designed by a Serving SS Soldier SS Untersharfuhr

Excellent condition for age. Awarded for service during 15 November 1941 to 15th April 1942, for being wounded in action, killed in action or for 14 to 60 days served in active combat between the dates Nov 1941 to April 1942 on the Eastern Front. Designed by a serving SS Soldier SS Uuntersharfuhrer E. Kraus it was held in high regard by serving soldiers. It's issue was officially decommissioned by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on the 4th of September 1944. The centre obverse features a half open-winged eagle clutching an immobile swastika. Above the medallion is a helmet resting on top of a stick grenade. On the reverse is the purpose of the medal, which cites the winter in Moscow 1941-42 positioned over a sword resting on laurel leaves. The ribbon was red, white and black symbolic of blood, snow and death.

Operation Barbarossa was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and several of its European Axis allies starting on 22 June 1941, during World War II. This was the medal issued for bitter, horrendous first winter on the Eastern Front, in which millions of men who were unprepared for the brunt of the Russian winter were forced to fight in often inhuman conditions. More than 3.8 million Axis troops invaded the western Soviet Union along a 2,900-kilometer (1,800 mi) front, with the main goal of capturing territory up to a line between Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan (A-A line). The attack became the largest and costliest military offensive in history, with around 10 million combatants taking part in the opening phase and over 8 million casualties by the end of the operation on 5 December 1941. It marked a major escalation of World War II, opening the Eastern Front—the largest and deadliest land theatre of war in history—and bringing the Soviet Union into the Allied powers.

Awarded for service during 15 November 1941 to 15th April 1942, for being wounded in action, killed in action or for 14 to 60 days served in active combat between the dates Nov 1941 to April 1942 on the Eastern Front. Designed by a serving SS Soldier SS Untersharfuhrer E. Kraus it was held in high regard by serving soldiers. It's issue was officially decommissioned by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht on the 4th of September 1944. The centre obverse features a half open-winged eagle clutching an immobile swastika. Above the medallion is a helmet resting on top of a stick grenade. On the reverse is the purpose of the medal, which cites the winter in Moscow 1941-42 positioned over a sword resting on laurel leaves. The ribbon was red, white and black symbolic of blood, snow and death.

Unterscharführer 'junior squad leader') was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party used by the Schutzstaffel (SS) between 1934 and 1945. The SS rank was created after the Night of the Long Knives. That event caused an SS re-organisation and the creation of new ranks to separate the SS from the Sturmabteilung.

Although Hitler was warned by many high-ranking military officers, such as Friedrich Paulus, that occupying Western Russia would create "more of a drain than a relief for Germany's economic situation," he anticipated compensatory benefits such as the demobilisation of entire divisions to relieve the acute labour shortage in German industry, the exploitation of Ukraine as a reliable and immense source of agricultural products, the use of forced labour to stimulate Germany's overall economy and the expansion of territory to improve Germany's efforts to isolate the United Kingdom. Hitler was further convinced that Britain would sue for peace once the Germans triumphed in the Soviet Union, and if they did not, he would use the resources gained in the East to defeat the British Empire.

"We only have to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down."

— —Adolf Hitler

The operation, code-named after the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa ("red beard"), put into action Nazi Germany's ideological goals of eradicating communism and conquering the western Soviet Union to repopulate it with Germans under Generalplan Ost, which planned for the extermination of the native Slavic peoples by mass deportation to Siberia, Germanisation, enslavement, and genocide. The material targets of the invasion were the agricultural and mineral resources of territories such as Ukraine and Byelorussia and oil fields in the Caucasus. The Axis eventually captured five million Soviet Red Army troops on the Eastern Front and deliberately starved to death or otherwise killed 3.3 million prisoners of war, as well as millions of civilians. The invasion began on 22 June 1941 with a massive ground and air assault, resulting in large territorial gains for the Nazis and their allies. The main part of Army Group South invaded from occupied Poland on 22 June and on 2 July was joined by a combination of German and Romanian forces attacking from Romania. Kiev was captured on 19 September, which was followed by the captures of Kharkov on 24 October and Rostov-on-Don on 20 November, by which time most of Crimea had been captured. Army Group North overran the Baltic lands and on 8 September 1941, began a siege of Leningrad accompanied by Finnish forces, which ultimately lasted until 1944.

Frontline strength of the Axis combatants; Germany, Romania Finland, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia (22 June 1941)

3.8 million personnel
3,350–3,795 tanks
3,030–3,072 other AFVs
2,770–5,369 aircraft
7,200–23,435 artillery pieces
17,081 mortars
600,000 horses
600,000 vehicles

Strength of the Soviet Frontline strength (22 June 1941)

2.6–2.9 million personnel
11,000 tanks
7,133–9,100 military aircraft

This Eastern Front Medal beautiful and is maker marked 13 on the ring for Gustaz Brehmer. These medals were all made of zinc, and most have lost their finish over time. This example has nearly all of its lovely, age patination finish. It shows service wear. The ribbon on this Eastern Front Medal is a nice, long example, with bright original colour. These awards are scarce in this condition. This one is in near mint condition, and displays extremely well.

The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union (USSR), Poland and other Allies, which encompassed Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Northeast Europe, and Southeast Europe (Balkans) from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945. It was known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union – and still is in some of its successor states, while almost everywhere else it has been called the Eastern Front. In present-day German and Ukrainian historiography the name German-Soviet War is typically used.

The two principal belligerent powers were Germany and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies. Though never sending in ground troops to the Eastern Front, the United States and the United Kingdom both provided substantial material aid to the Soviet Union in the form of the Lend-Lease program along with naval and air support. The joint German–Finnish operations across the northernmost Finnish–Soviet border and in the Murmansk region are considered part of the Eastern Front. In addition, the Soviet–Finnish Continuation War is generally also considered the northern flank of the Eastern Front.
After Germany's initial success at the Battle of Kiev in 1941, Hitler saw the Soviet Union as militarily weak and ripe for immediate conquest. In a speech at the Berlin Sportpalast on 3 October, he announced, "We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down." Thus, Germany expected another short Blitzkrieg and made no serious preparations for prolonged warfare. However, following the decisive Soviet victory at the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943 and the resulting dire German military situation, Nazi propaganda began to portray the war as a German defence of Western civilisation against destruction by the vast "Bolshevik hordes" that were pouring into Europe.

On the 4th of September 1944 it was forbidden to wear the medal any longer officially as it was an embarrassment to Hitler as it represented the greatest defeat suffered by Germany by that time, but many combatants continued to wear the ribbon. Of course far greater defeats awaited him by Britain, the Commonwealth and the American allied forces in Europe.  read more

Code: 26062